Police resign over new duties

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 March 1999, 22:18 GMT]Twenty Sri Lankan policemen who were recently transferred from guard duty at Puliyankulam in the Vanni to new positions on the Vavuniya-Mannar road have submitted their resignations, said Police sources.

The policemen say they do not want to serve in the new area, according to the sources.

Over 10,000 policemen who were holding positions captured from the Liberation Tigers by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) had recently demanded they be relieved of duty in the Vanni, and were transferred to the Vavuniya-Mannar road instead.

The policemen, who are predominantly Sinhalese from the south, say they had originally been told they would only have to serve for six months, but had been kept in the Vanni for much longer, some for as long as two years.

Meanwhile five policemen including a sub inspector who were recently transferred from the south to Vavuniya were suspended as they had refused to take up duties.

Police sources said that the Police hierarchy are preparing to take action against any policemen who had been transferred to war areas and not taken up duties.